FIA tweaks new qualifying format

NEWS STORY18/02/2006

A comment first heard at last week's Valencia test, and subsequently confirmed to Pitpass by a spokesperson for the FIA, reveals that Formula One's governing body has spotted and closed a possible loophole in the new 'knock-out' qualifying format.

It was feared that in the early part of the third phase of the session - the 20-minute shoot-out - drivers would deliberately run slow in an attempt to conserve fuel.

With the teams allowed to refuel at the end of qualifying, the regulations state that they are allowed so many litres (an amount to be specified by the FIA) for each lap completed. Consequently, drivers could gain an advantage by using less fuel than they need to.

Consequently, the FIA has decided to introduce a 110% rule for the final phase, whereby only laps within 110% of a driver's best time will count for the 'fuel credit'.